Week 9 Blog -- Space + Art -- Phoebe Nguyen

  I found it interesting seeing the evolution of the human understanding of space and the world around us over time. The module opened with Carl Sagan’s concept of understanding how small humans are in the large world of galaxies. He was the first person who brought about new ways of questioning what “space” entailed (Vesna 1:02). Specifically, the Powers of Ten Video really put into perspective how small we are. When the video underwent about 3 cycles of zooming out, I already started having a difficult time seeing the couple having a picnic (and we didn’t even reach the clouds yet!) (Eames Office 1:15). 

Eames Office. “Aerial Image of a Couple Having a Picnic on a Lawn from 1000 Meters Away.” Powers of Ten, 1977, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0. Accessed 1 June 2023. 

We then begin to see the intersection of fields of academia as we begin to broaden our understanding of space. For instance, nanotech was used to work towards making “space elevators” out of carbon nanotubes to transport items and people into space without relying on rockets (Vesna 7:54). This, along with lots of other knowledge, contributed to the creation of NASA in 1958 as the US began experimenting with military space programming (Vesna 6:54). Although this creation of an “official” organization may seem far off from everyday life, the creation of NASA impacted everyday culture, beginning with the education system. As the interest in space programming increased, school curriculum started to reflect that as kids were required to take more math and science courses (Vesna 7:31). 

Pop culture was also deeply influenced by the scientific discoveries related to space. Following the Soviet Union’s success in taking a living dog into space, Laika, the dog, became a popular face in pop culture. 

Laika the space dog: First living creature in orbit | Space

NASA. “Laika, a Mixed-Breed Dog, Became the First Living Being in Orbit When the Soviet Union Launched Her on the Sputnik 2 Mission on Nov. 3, 1957. Laika, a Mixed-Breed Dog, Became the First Living Being in Orbit When the Soviet Union Launched Her on the Sputnik 2 Mission on Nov. 3, 1957.” Laika the Space Dog: First Living Creature in Orbit, 14 Jan. 2022, https://www.space.com/laika-space-dog. Accessed 1 June 2023. 

Various songs referenced Laika in lyrics and there were even cigarettes named after her! (Vesna 4:16). Beyond the marketing realm, creative outlets started to reflect the idea of space as well, prompting higher levels of imagination and creativity in people. Shows and movies such as “The Jetsons” and “Star Trek” started depicting how life would theoretically be like on different planets and/or in space (Vesna 6:34). These films have inspired many artists to recreate and reimagine what life would be like beyond Earth (as seen below).

The Trek Collective: Heritage Auctions offer up stunning worlds of Star Trek matte paintings

Stromberg, Robert. “Matte Painting Depicting the World of Star Trek.” Heritage Auctions Offer up Stunning Worlds of Star Trek Matte Paintings, 13 June 2021, https://www.thetrekcollective.com/2021/06/heritage-auctions-offer-up-stunning.html. Accessed 1 June 2023. 

It was interesting to see how the development of information related to using technology for weaponry or for scientific discovery later influenced pop culture, which can appear to be so different from the happenings under the NASA roof or at SpaceX. 


References

Eames Office. “Powers of TenTM (1977).” YouTube, 26 Aug. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0.  

Vesna, Victoria. “8 space intro 1280x720.” Youtube, UC Online, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPAmpBiVHY  

Vesna, Victoria. “Space Exploration + Art part 1.” Youtube, UC Online, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZIqTR332l8 

Vesna, Victoria. “8 space pt2 1280x720.” Youtube, UC Online, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLZMDpoP-u0 

Vesna, Victoria. “8 space pt3 1280x720.” Youtube, UC Online, 29 July 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WOqt_C55Mk&t=1s 

Vesna, Victoria. “Space pt6.” Youtube, UC Online, 30 May 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYmOtFjIj0M  


Images

Eames Office. “Aerial Image of a Couple Having a Picnic on a Lawn from 1000 Meters Away.” Powers of Ten, 1977, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0. Accessed 1 June 2023. 

NASA. “Laika, a Mixed-Breed Dog, Became the First Living Being in Orbit When the Soviet Union Launched Her on the Sputnik 2 Mission on Nov. 3, 1957. Laika, a Mixed-Breed Dog, Became the First Living Being in Orbit When the Soviet Union Launched Her on the Sputnik 2 Mission on Nov. 3, 1957.” Laika the Space Dog: First Living Creature in Orbit, 14 Jan. 2022, https://www.space.com/laika-space-dog. Accessed 1 June 2023. 

Stromberg, Robert. “Matte Painting Depicting the World of Star Trek.” Heritage Auctions Offer up Stunning Worlds of Star Trek Matte Paintings, 13 June 2021, https://www.thetrekcollective.com/2021/06/heritage-auctions-offer-up-stunning.html. Accessed 1 June 2023.

Comments

  1. Anna Sofia GuerraJune 1, 2023 at 8:57 PM

    Hi Phoebe! I enjoyed reading your blog this week. Like yourself, I also found the Powers of Ten video very engaging and it really put things into perspective on how small we are, but also how not-so-small we are when we got to the cellular level! I like how you detailed the impact that Laika made on pop culture and such, it always saddens me to hear her story and others that met unfortunate endings in the space race such as the Apollo team. Again, I enjoyed reading your post!

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